Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Part 2 Chapter 4: Trash (1)
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Driann, the God of Violence and Plunder.
One of the 12 Gods, bearing a moniker akin to that of a demon god.
His followers were said to be the most savage among the 12 churches, and their doctrines were filled with endorsements of crime.
In truth, most nations refused to tolerate the Driann Church, but in the lawless wastes at the far western edge of the western continent , the Driann Church was the only faith that had taken root.
Beyond that, it always cropped up in neighborhoods rife with illicit dealings.
The most minor of the 12 churches, yet unparalleled in its brutality.
'Fast, huh?'
Jamie clicked his tongue softly as he gazed at the surge of Driann's divinity emanating from the royal castle.
Driann.
In his past life as Diablo Volpir, the opponent he had clashed with most after Zenith.
That grotesque visage was still vividly etched in his memory even after tens of thousands of years.
-Diablo! The world is survival of the fittest! Only the strong endure! You're strong, but weak. Why? Because you're alone! Ki-hi-hi-hi-hi-ha-ha!
Among the 12 Gods, Driann was particularly obsessed with strength, yet despite his grandiose title, he ranked in the lower tiers of power.
The followers of the current Driann Church, faithful to him, shared his temperament.
Violence and plunder.
This ultimately meant tormenting the weak.
Jamie turned to Jin and said,
"Am I right?"
Jin stared silently at Driann's divinity.
His mask hid his expression, but it was clear he was deeply troubled.
As the divinity began to fade, Jin finally spoke.
"Nothing changes."
"What?"
"Even if the Driann Church joins the fray after I take the king's head, the situation won't shift much. And on this land, you're the only one who could stop me."
Unless the Driann Church's Paladin Captain arrived, evading a Sword Master's assassination under the moonlight—wielding immense authority—was impossible.
It wasn't wrong.
But Jin was missing the point.
"The king isn't the heart of this country."
"What do you mean?"
"It's no exaggeration to say this nation has already fallen into the hands of that guy named Helm. If the king dies, it just means there's someone ready to replace him."
"Even so, symbolism matters. No matter how fallen the kingdom..."
"Didn't Fatal Count mention that much?"
At the mention of Neo Fatal, Jin fell silent.
As expected, today's liberation army raid had been planned by Neo.
"He approached me. Asked for a little help."
"Neo..."
"What'll it be? Ally with me, or settle this now. Choose."
As Jin stood there, seemingly pondering, Jamie's temper flared and he bellowed,
"Didn't you come to save the suffering people of Harmonia?"
"..."
"Freedom? Bullshit! You're just helping to claim a stake in this land! You dazzled the liberation army with pretty words like 'freedom'!"
"That's not true!"
"It is. You're checking me because if Seldam gets a foothold here, Frontier can't exert full influence. Right?"
"We're not some organization bound by petty..."
"Then we're good."
Jamie smiled as if he'd never been angry.
"No issue allying then, huh?"
"...You bastard."
"We'll deal with the aftermath later. Right now, sorting out this rotten country comes first, doesn't it? Don't forget your priorities, Sword Master."
"Damn you."
Jin had no choice but to admit he'd been ensnared.
King Kiphurs lay sprawled on a lavish luxury sofa, his face flushed from drink and drugs.
A man loomed directly over the king.
Blasphemous as it was, no one dared call it out.
The man asked Helm Marquis, who was slowly swirling a wine glass by the window,
"Calling us already? Isn't the timing too rushed?"
"Things got annoying."
Helm Marquis clicked his tongue at the flashing scenes outside the window. Reports said seven liberation army members had infiltrated the capital.
Two were captured, but the other five were unaccounted for.
Evidently including skilled ones, as their side's casualties were already mounting.
"What a ragtag bunch. Total idiots."
Helm Marquis felt utter contempt for Harmonia's forces, unable to even catch seven rats.
It was unavoidable, though.
Irrespective of his disdain, he himself was the culprit behind their incompetence.
"Made 'em all too useless. Should've left them a bit less incompetent?"
For the grand scheme approaching, soldiers would be a hindrance, so he'd purged all capable generals.
The reasons were laughable, but the king was beyond reason, and with real power in Helm's hands, it was no great feat.
There had been backlash, but only from the king's knight Cyril, easily suppressed politically.
In truth, Cyril could have sparked a bloodbath, but he lacked the temperament.
Ultimately loyal to the king.
"Anyway, seven isn't all of them."
"Think the one who killed the king's knight is here?"
"Witnesses say he's elusive. Even Cyril, strong among Sword Masters, couldn't resist much—specialized in assassination, safe to assume."
"Fearsome power."
"If he reaches here, the king's head is gone."
The king dying was fine, but it would complicate things slightly.
Hating even that, Helm planned to save the king somehow.
Puppets could be anyone, but ruined dolls weren't easily replaced.
He eyed the snoring King Kiphurs.
"A splendidly ruined doll."
"Disgustingly so."
"Never imagined plundering a whole nation would be this easy."
"Like plundering that body?"
"Heh. Something like that."
Helm's lips curled up.
The man said,
"High Priest. Tell us the plan going forward."
Called High Priest, Helm swept his face. Skin sloughed off, revealing the face beneath.
Snake-like eyes, prominent cheekbones, pointed chin—an impressive visage.
He was one of the Driann Church's two High Priests: Helm himself.
No true name.
Driann priests discarded names. Easier for violence and plunder.
"Plan stays the same."
"But the time..."
"Enough. This'll do."
Many had already died.
Over five years of civil war.
The land piled with blood and corpses.
Still accumulating.
"Times are changing fast. With the 12 Gods' order crumbling, we must find our path to survival."
All said it began with Pyro Church and Zenith Church clash at Abton.
But that was merely the visible spark; all church leaders knew.
The 12 Gods had already fractured into 7 pieces.
From that split, each raced to the top.
Weaker Driann Church needed speed over others.
And by doctrine, it had no choice but to be faster.
"Called demon god? Fine. If we reach the pinnacle."
"Our Father's will."
Good chance to sweep away pesky flies.
'Jamie Welton.'
Arrogant brat who insulted him, even if disguised.
Him, he'd make regret eternally.
"Tell them to begin."
"Understood."
The man left the king's chamber.
"Wait."
Helm called to the man at the door.
He turned questioningly; Helm said,
"Jamie Welton's disciples and secretary are in the mage tower. Kidnap them."
"Isn't Jamie Welton here to aid Harmonia?"
"World doesn't work that simply."
"Got it for now."
Helm suppressed his twitching lips and gazed out the window.
Smoke rose from spots everywhere.
"What's going on out there?"
"No idea."
"Damn it. They should've taken us too."
"Staying put here should be fine."
Hera soothed Jamie's anxious disciples and glanced at the door.
The corridor was noisy with people rushing about.
Whispers of liberation army invasion floated through.
Tales of comrades fallen, vows of no mercy.
The three huddled silently in the room.
But soon,
"Isn't it getting quiet?"
The raucous corridor had fallen eerily silent at some point.
Lennon shot up.
Hera grabbed his wrist.
"No."
"We need to check outside."
"Defying the Elder?"
"...This much is fine."
Shaking off Hera's hand, Lennon crept to the door and pressed his ear close.
Not imagination—the corridor outside was deathly quiet.
Puzzled, he cracked the door and peeked out.
"No one's there."
"No one?"
Ann approached Lennon, incredulous.
Hera stood guard behind, scanning for threats.
Confirming the empty hall, they stepped out.
Walking the length, still nothing.
"All gone up?"
"Seems so. What happened suddenly?"
"Hm."
As the three stiffened in the eerie atmosphere, scanning around—
Drip—a drop fell from the ceiling.
Ann wiped the droplet from her face with her sleeve.
Wondering why water from the ceiling, she looked up.
And screamed.
"Kyaaah!"
At the sudden shriek, Lennon and Hera whirled.
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Th-there, up there...!"
Trembling, Ann pointed at the ceiling without looking.
Their gazes followed.
"Uwak!"
Lennon collapsed in shock. Hera flinched, hand to mouth.
Numerous corpses clung to the ceiling.
Freshly dead, faces still lively.
"Wh-what the...?"
How they stuck there was mystery, but horrific nonetheless.
Trauma-deep.
Then—
"Ki-hi-hi-hi-hit!"
With a chilling laugh—
Shing!
A whoosh of air.
Lennon glanced aside.
A massive blade hurtled to cleave his small head.
No escape.
His eyes widened.
Stab—
Flesh pierced.
A hideous-faced man gripping a sword grinned wide.
He eyed his extended blade.
"Khek."
And crumpled.
A black thorn protruding from his gut to back dispersed into air.
Shadow Secret Art
Shadow Pierce
Hera straightened her knelt knee and released her clasped hands.
The secret art of the Voleno family.
The 'Shadow Secret Art,' renowned for infinite power in shadows.
Lennon rubbed his face, swallowing dryly.
"Not over."
At Hera's words, Lennon sprang up.
Ann rose too, legs shaking.
Overwhelming for kids, but they couldn't just sit.
"Incoming."
From both hall ends, men like the dead one approached, swords drawn.
"Stay close behind me."
Jamie entrusted the kids to her. She'd protect them somehow.
She intended to.
"Damn bastards... Ann."
Lennon glared at Ann, grinding teeth. Her legs steadied; she nodded firmly.
"Yeah. Let's start."
Hera turned at Ann's abrupt words.
The trembling children were gone; their auras shifted sharply.
"Lady Hera. Thanks just now. But from here..."
"We'll fight our way. No need to protect us."
"...Pardon?"
Hera couldn't grasp it, but the ensuing battle made it clear.
"Keep feeding us info. Just that..."
"And we win."
They were Jamie Welton's direct disciples.